Line-sectionalizers



March 20, 1956 J. M. WALLACE ETAL LINE-SECTIONALIZERS Filed July 21 Fig.2.

w 55 G 4 2 4 8 6 0.04 I I J m u 4 mu 4 5 6% 8 M 6 4 g 4 F \J INVENTORS James M. Wallace 8 Andrew W. Edwards.

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United States Patent 2,739,202 LINE-SECTIONALIZERS James M. Wallace and Andrew W. Edwards, East McKeesport, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 21, 1950, Serial No. 175,271

11 Claims. (Cl. 200-108) Our invention relates to improvements in linesectionalizing systems and equipment, for electrical distribution-lines. In such systems, a distribution-line, usually rural, is energized through an automatic recloser, which trips out in the event of a fault, and automatically quickly recloses itself for a predetermined number of times, usually four, before locking itself out. The line is divided into a plurality of smaller sections by one or more sectionalizers, which count a smaller number of rapidly repeated overcurrent-conditions, and then open a serially-connected line-contact, and lock it open, during a no-current period of the recloser. In this way, a fault which does not clear itself as a result of a limited number of circuit-openings will result in the locking out of only one of the sectionalizers, thus producing a power-outage in only a part of the distribution-line, leaving the rest of the line in service.

The objects of our present invention include a novel system using such apparatus whereby, after a period of shut-down, such a recloser-and-sectionalizer combination is used to split up the load of a distribution-line in which the loads have a high diversity-factor.

A further object of our invention is to provide an enclosed sectionalizer, in which the integrator or countingmechanism is placed on the inside of a special door for the housing. The bottom edge of this door is hinged with a special toggle-hinge or expansible hinge, with a latch whereby, when the integrator finishes its count, it will trip this hinge, and permit the door to drop downward, so that its opposite edge, which fits into the dooropening of the housing, pulls away from its edge of said door-opening, as distinguished from hinging open. A door of this general type has been in use, for some time, with enclosed fuses, as shown in a Rawlins Patent 2,359,153 of September 26, 1944, wherein the togglehinge was unlatched by the blowing of a fuse.

The circuit-contacts of such a device are made at the top of the door, so that, when the door is closed, by movement on its hinge in the normal fashion of a door, a circuit-making contact which is carried by the door makes a wiping engagement with a line-contact which is carried in the box, thus wiping the contacts clean. However, after possibly several years in which a sectionalizer has not operated, such contacts usually become roughened and corroded, so that they would not readily permit the wiping motion which would be involved if an attempt were made to cause the door to hinge open again in the ordinary manner of doors. This corrosive sticking of the contacts was not of any particular moment in the case of Rawlins fuse-box, because the circuit would be safely opened by the blowing of the fuse, even though the contacts should stick.

In the event of an integrator-actuated sectionalizercontact, however, the whole operation depends upon the ability to open the contacts, and our use of a special toggle-hinge or expansible hinge makes it possible to open said contacts by pulling them apart at approximately right angles to their contacting surfaces, so that the openice ing is not endangered by surface-roughening due to corrosion.

A further object of our invention is to provide an integrator-mechanism in which the counter-rod is advanced in a step-by-step manner, advancing one step each time the armature of an electromagnet returns to its unattracted position. In this manner, the counter-rod of the integrator advances only during the no-current periods of the recloser, so that, when the counter-rod has made its predetermined advance, it will trip open the sectionalizer-contact during a no-current period.

It is a more specific object of our invention to provide special disengaging-means for the ratchet which advances the counter-rod one step during each return-movement of the armature, this ratchet being disengaged at both ends of its movement, for a reason which we will explain.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an air-type sectionalizer which uses an ordinary dashpot for opposing the sudden return-movement or resetting of the counter-rod toward its unadvanced position. In this manner, we avoid the oil-leakage difficulties which are encountered with oil-immersed apparatus, we provide a sectionalizer which operates in air, and we avoid much of the expense and difficulty which is encountered with other delaying mechanisms such as mechanical escapemerits.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, our invention consists in the systems, circuits, combinations, apparatus, parts, and methods of design and operation, hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a cutaway elevational view of a housmg, with one of our sectionalizers mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the integratormechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, showing the manner of operation of the special toggle-hinge for the door; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of circuits and apparatus illustrating the application of our invention to a distribution-system having a high diversity-factor. Referring first to Fig. 4, we have diagrammatically ndicated, by single-line diagram, the application of our invention to an electrical distribution-line 5, which is energized from a suitable source S through an overload circuit-breaker 6, a transformer 7, and a recloser 8.

The overcurrent or overload circuit-breaker 6 is responsure to faults on the transformer 7, and it has a sufficiently high current-setting so that it is responsive only to the severest of the faults on the distribution-line 5. Specifically, the current-setting of the breaker 6 is sufi'iciently high so that said breaker is not responsive to the initial load-current fiow in the distribution-line 5, after a period of shutdown, such as will be subsequently described. The breaker 6 is a single-action affair, which locks its contacts open after a single opening-operation.

The recloser 8 comprises a normally closed serially connected line-contact 8', a serially connected coil 9, and an integrator or counting-mechanism l0. Either the overcurrent circuit-breaker 6 or the recloser-contact 8' can be provided with manual opening-means and closingmeans, as indicated by the handles 11 and 12 respectively, by which means, we intend to diagrammatically indicate that some sort of switching-means may be provided, which is operable independently of the automatic controls of the recloser-integrator 10.

The recloser 8 automatically operates, in response to the feeblest fault-current which could occur in the distribution-line 5, to quickly open the recloser-contact 8', thus deenergizing the line. The recloser has a time-constant built into it. whereby it has a practically instantaneous response to fault-currents of a predetermined magnitude, operating to open the circuit of a 60-cycle line within, say, one cycle, more or less, under such circumstances. However, for somewhat smaller overcurrents, the recloser will still respond, but only with a sl ght time-delay, which may be of the order of from three to five cycles, more or less; and for still smaller currents, the recloser will not respond at all.

When the recloser 8 responds to an overcurrent-condition by opening its line-contact 8', it immediately starts to reclose the line-contact again, and at the same time it starts a counting-mechanism or integrator 10, which may be similar to the integrator which we will subsequently describe for our sectionalizer. In general principles, the integrator 10 counts a predetermined number of rapidly occurring overcurrent-conditions, and at the end of this count, which is usually a count of four, the mechanism locks out the reclosing apparatus of the recloser 8, and prevents the line-contact 8' from automatically reclosing any more. The time required for each of these reclosingoperations may be of the order of 11 cycles, in an illustrative example.

The distribution-line which is shown in Fig. 4 is illustrated as serving a large number of intermittent loads 13 having a high diversity-factor. The line which supplies these loads is subdivided into a plurality of smaller sections by means of one or more sectionalizers, three such sectionalizers being illustrated, at 21, 22 and 23 respectively; so that each section of the distribution-line supplies only a part of the high-diversity loads 13, as indicated in Fig. 4. Each of the sectionalizers 21, 22 and 23 is diagrammatically indicated, in Fig. 4, as comprising a normally closed line-contact 28, a coil 29, and an integrator 30, the contact 28 and the coil 29 being connected in series with a section of the distribution-line 5.

Each sectionalizer-coil 29 is designed so that it will respond to the minimum fault-current which can fiow therethrough. On the other hand, the corresponding coil 9 of the recloser 8 is designed so that it will respond, a trifie less sensitively than the sectionalizer-coil 29, when a fault occurs anywhere on the distribution-line 5, so that the proper sectionalizer 21, 22 or 23 will be sure to respond whenever the recloser 8 responds.

When any sectionalizer-coil 29 responds to its predetermined overcurrent-value, it starts counting the number of rapidly repeated overcurrent-conditions, which are brought about by the opening and closing of the reclosurecontact 8; and when a count has been reached, which.

is smaller than the number of times which must be counted by the recloser-integrator in order to lock out the recloser, the sectionalizer-integrator 30 operates to open the sectionalizer-contact 28, thus cutting that section of the distribution-line 5 out of service, thus clearing the fault from the rest of the distribution-line, and

permitting the recloser 8 to reset itself, ready for another count, leaving the unfaulted part of the line in service.

The high-diversity loads 13 usually are made up of a great many ofi -and on loads, having different time-cycles, some of these loads being automatically controlled. while others are manually controlled by the customers. In normal service, therefore, the loads are not all starting at once, and are not all operating at once. The situation is difierent, however, after a shutdown-period of, say, half an hour, or longer, in which the electric power is off of the distribution-line, as a result of a manual opening of the circuit-breaker 6 or of the recloser switch 8', or as a result of an automatic overcurrent-response of thecircuit-breaker 6, to an overload-condition or a fault-condition including conditions which do not cause an automatic operation of the recloser 8.

When power is again supplied to a high-diversity distribution-line 5, after such a shutdown-period, the high diversity-factor will no longer be applicable. A great many of the loads will be automatically controlled loads, such as refrigerators, stokers, and thermostatically controlled heaters such as irons and water-heaters, which would ordinarily be going at staggered periods, but which will now all come on together. A number of these loads will be motor-loads, which draw heavy overcurrents during the first three or four cycles after starting from standstill.

It usually happens, on long distribution-lines to which our invention is particularly applicable, that the weakest fault-current is larger than the heaviest steady-state total load-current, only after the diversity-factor has become effective, and thus it is possible for the recloser 8 and the sectionalizers 21, 22 and 23 to distinguish between fault-currents and normal load-currents.

When such a rural distribution-line 5 is first energized, however, after a shutdown-period, so that the diversityfactor is no longer efiective, the first inrush of current may be more than can be withstood by either the recloser 8 or the individual sectionalizers 21, 22 or 23, so that this inrush load-current looks like a fault-current to each of these devices, and they respond accordingly. The recloser 8 thereupon commences a rapid succession of circuitopening and -closing operations, while the overloaded sectionalizers 21, 22 and 23 start counting the rapid succession of overcurrent-impulses which flow therethrough. Before the recloser 8 locks itself out, each one of the overloaded sectionalizers will have responded by opening its sectionalizer-contact 28, thus removing enough of the load, from the recloser 8, so that said recloser will no longer respond, and its line-contact 8' will thereafter remain closed. The various integrators 10 and 30 will thereupon start to automatically reset themselves to their initial positions.

As previously explained, the recloser 8 has a certain time-constant built into it, so that it is able to match, or slightly more than match, the decay of the inrushcurrent with time, in the case of a large number of motors which are being started simultaneously. The recloser 8, therefore, is able to avoid a response to these inrushcurrents. This is not the case, however, in respect to the sectionalizers 21, 22 and 23, because these sectionalizers are built without any time-constant in their action, being as nearly instantaneous, in their response to the energizations and deenergizations of their sectionalizercoils 29, as it is practicable to make them.

In the manner just described, when a high-diversity distribution-line 5 is energized, after a period of shutdown, the overloaded sections are automatically cut out by their respective sectionalizers 21, 22 or 23, which operate just as if there had been a fault on each of these sections. By this means, the undiversified load on the distributionline 5 is reduced to the point where it will no longer operate the recloser 8, and the line is put into operation with this reduced load. It then becomes necessary for the system-operator to send men out, to manually reset each of the tripped sectionalizers 21, 22 and 23, one at a time, with sufficient time-interval therebetween (say 20 minutes or so) so that the diversity-factor will come into play somewhat, and prevent a tripping-out of the recloser 8.

An improved form of sectionalizer, such as 21, is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The illustrated sectionalizerconstruction includes an insulating housing 31 having two line-contacts 32 and 33 therein, said housing being supported from a suitable bracket 34, as shown in Fig. l, and also as shown in the aforesaid Rawlins patent. The supporting-bracket is commonly mounted up somewhere on a pole (not shown). The housing 31 is provided with a door 35 of insulating material, which is provided with an apertured handle 36 for manipulation by a hook stick (not shown) in a manner which will be understood by those familiar with line-switches. The door 35 stands upright, or nearly upright, in its closed position. The lower side or edge of the door 35 is hinged at a hingepintle 37 which is disposed preferably not right at the extreme lowermost edge of the door, but near the lowermost edge.

The hinge-pintle 37 is connected to the door by a lug or lugs 38 which extend on the inside of the door 35, and this hinge-pintle engaged the top end of a swinging hinge-link 39, the lower end of which is pivoted on a stationary hinge-pin 40 which is carried by the housing 31. The connection with the stationary hinge-pin 40 is removable, by means of a slot 41, as described and claimed in the aforesaid Rawlins patent. It will be noted that the swinging hinge-link 39 constitutes a pivotally supported, off-center linkage-lever, so that the downward thrust of the weight of the door 35, which is communicated to said hinge-link 39 by the door-pintle 37, is offcenter with respect to the supporting-pin 40 at the bottom of the hinge-link 39, so that the hinge-link tends to swing outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, letting the door drop downwardly a bit, with its lower end swinging a little outwardly from the housing 31, as shown in Fig. 3.

Normally, the hinge-link 39 is prevented from swinging further off-center, beyond its normal position shown in Fig. 1, by means of a linkage-latch 42, which is biased towards its upper or closed position, by means of a spring 43 as shown in Fig. 2. The linkage-latch 42 is shown, in the particular illustrated embodiment of our invention, as being engaged with the bottom end of a contactlever 44, which carries a side-arm 45 pivoted to the hinge-link 39 at an intermediate point 46, which is also offset or off-center with respect to the stationary hingepin 40. The line-contact 33 presses downwardly on the top end of the contact-lever 44, in such direction as to hold said lever pressed against the hinge'lever 39 as far as will be permitted by a suitable abutment 47 which is carried by the contact-lever 44. Thus, in the ordinary position of the parts, as shown in Fig. 1, the contactlever 44 is held immovable with respect to the hinge-lever 39, so that the engagement of the linkage-latch or hingelatch 42 with the contact-lever 44 prevents any out-swinging of the hinge-link 39.

The integrator-mechanism 30 of the sectionalizer is carried, in a normally substantially vertical position, by the inside of the door 39, being held by suitable clampingmeans 50. In the illustrated form of construction, as shown in Fig. 2, the integrator 30 comprises an insulating tube 51, the top end of which carries the movable switchcontact 28 of the sectionalizer. When the door 35 is hinged to its closed position, by a hinging-movement about the stationary hinge-pin 40, with the hinge-link 39 held in the position shown in Fig. 1, this sectionalizer-contact 28, which is carried by the top end of .the integrator-tube 51, makes a wiping engagement with the underside of the line-contact 32, so that the downward pressure of the line-contact 32 adds to the weight of the door 35 in tending to break the toggle-joint 37 of the off-center hinge-lever 39. At the same time, when the door is closed, the top end 28 of the integrator-tube 51 is engaged by a latch-member 52, to hold the top end of the door in its closed position.

The integrator-tube 51 is provided, at an intermediate point, with a magnetizing coil 29, which produces a magnetic flux which threads axially through a portion of the tube 51. This sectionalizer-coil 29 is provided with two leads 53 and 54, which are connected respectively to the sectionalizer-contact 28 at the top of the integratortube 51, and to the contact-lever 44 which forms a part of the toggle-hinge mechanism at the bottom of the door 35.

Disposed axially within the integrator-tube 51, in a position to be responsive to the magnetic flux of the coil 29, is an axially movable armature 55, which is freely movable axially between an unattracted lowersufliciently energized, its magnetic attraction will lift the armature. The elevated or attracted position of the inforced by means of a compression-spring 57, as shown most position and an attracted elevated position. The

lowermost position of the armature 55 is shown in Fig. 2. In this position, the lower end of the armature extends down below the coil 29, so that when the coil is in Fig. 2.

The armature 55 and the abutment 56 have axially extending holes 55' and 56' extending therethrough, for freely accommodating an axially movable counter-rod 58 which extends both upwardly and downwardly beyond the coil 29. Below the armature 55, there is a one-way drive-mechanism, shown in the form of a tiltable pawl or clutch 60, which is pressed up against the armature 55, by a spring 60. In the lowermost position of the armature 55, said armature presses the pawl or clutch 60 down against the level or horizontal top of a sleeve 61 in the tubular member 51.

When the coil 29 is energized with a sufficient overcurrent, it draws the armature 55 into its upward position, and this upward movement of the armature is followed by the pawl or clutch 60, under the force of its spring 60'. At the end of this upward movement, the top of the pawl 60 is leveled off by engagement with the level or horizontal bottom of a sleeve 61 in the tubular member 51, thus disengaging said pawl from the counter-bar 58.

When the coil 29 is deenergized, by which we mean, when said coil is not sufiiciently energized, the armature 55 drops down to its lowermost position, carrying the pawl or clutch 60 with it. The bottom edge of the armature 55 is uneven, having a downwardly projecting extension 62 on one side, thus causing the pawl 60 to cant sideways, when said pawl is pushed down away from the level bottom of the sleeve 61, thus making the pawl engage in one of a series of notches 63 on the counterbar 58, and thus pushing the counter-bar down a little further than the distance between successive notches 63. Just as the armature 55 reaches its lowermost position, the pawl or clutch 60 is leveled off by engagement with the level top of the sleeve 61, thus again disengaging said pawl or clutch from the counter-bar 58.

The top end of the counter-bar 58 is biased toward an elevated or unadvanced position, by means of a spring 65. The top end of this counter-bar 58 is also connected to the bottom of a time-delay device, which is shown in the form of an air-bellows 66 which is secured to the top of the tubular integrator-housing 51. This bellows 66 is provided with a one-way valve 66', so that said bellows serves as a means for opposing the sudden upward returnmovement of the counter-bar 58 after it has been advanced downwardly, while at the same time permitting said counter-bar to move downwardly substantially unimpededly.

Thus, when the pawl or clutch 60 pushes the counterbar 58 one step downwardly, and lets go of the bar, the bellows 66 holds said bar temporarily in its downwardly advanced position, permitting said bar to begin to very slowly reset itself by moving back to its uppermost or unadvanced position. Since the pawl 60 is disengaged from the counter-bar 58 at all times except when the pawl is in the process of moving downwardly, the counter-bar 58 is at all other times free to reset itself slowly upwardly. Whether an overcurrent-condition persists, as in the case of inrush-currents, or whether it is discontinued, the counter-bar 58, in any position except its topmost position, is always very slowly moving back upwardly in its resetting movement, except during the brief times when the counter-bar is being thrust downwardly during a downward stroke of the armature 55. Thus if the armature 55 should be pulled downwardly into its attracted position as a result of an inrush-current that is not strong enough to trip the recloser 8, the pawl latched from the door-latch 52.

60 will release the counter-rod 58 and permit the latter to slowly move back upwardly to its reset position.

If, now, there should be a succession of rapidly repeated energization and deenergizations of the coil 29, the bottom end of the counter-bar 58 will be advanced progressively downwardly in a succession of steps, as indicated at 68 in Fig. 2. Since these downward steps or advances occur during the non-energized conditions of the coil 29, the last step of a predetermined number of downward steps will always take place during a no-current period of the recloser 8 of Fig. 4. Finally, as shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of. the counter-bar 58 is driven below the open lower end of the integrator-housing 51, so that said counter-bar 58 presses down on the hingelinkage latch 42, as shown in Fig. 2, and releases the same, permitting the hinge-link 39 of the door to fall open, as shown in Fig. 3.

As previously indicated, the resulting toggle-opening or olf-center movement of the hinge-link 39 permits the lower end of the door 35 to move outwardly and downwardly, even before the upper end of the door is un- In this way, the electrical contact between the integrator-top 28 and the linecontact-spring 32 is broken, in a contact-separating direction which is substantially normal to the two contacting surfaces, and with a slight rocking movement which is very effective in breaking apart a sticking joint, thus avoiding the necessity for any wiping motion in the separation of contacts which may have become roughened by corrosion during a long period in the closed position. The downward follow-up movement of the line-contact-spring 32 is limited, so that the integrator-contact 28 finally breaks away from this line-contact-spring 32, as a result of the downward movement of the door 35 when the toggle hinge-link 39 is broken as shown in Fig. 3.

The housing is usually so arranged that the door 35 now falls all the way down, by gravity, swinging open on the stationary hinge-pin 40, until the door is hanging down vertically from its lower end, at which time the hinge-linkage snaps back together again, into its initial closed position which is shown in Fig. l. The sectionalizer can now be reset again, into its normal closed position, by a lineman reaching up with a hook stick (not shown) and closing the door 35 by an ordinary door-hinging movement on its stationary hinge-pin 40, so that the top end of the door is engaged by the doorlatch 52, and the top surface of the movable sectionalizer-contact 28 wipes under the line-contact 32, making a wiping engagement which makes a better contact, as is well known.

While we have illustrated the structural form of our sectionalizer in only one suggested form of embodiment, and while we have illustrated the application of our sectionalizer in' only one system-combination or use, we wish it to be understood that our invention is not limited to these illustrated examples. We desire, therefore, that the appended claims shall be accorded the broadest construction consistent with their language.

We claim as our invention:

1. An enclosed sectionalizer for use on an electrical distribution-line, said sectionalizer comprising: a housing having two line-contacts therein, said housing further having a door, a tubular member mounted on the inside of the door, a hinge for one edge of the door, and a doorlatch for engaging a portion of the tubular member adjacent an opposite edge of the door for holding the door closed; said hinge comprising a pivotally supported, offcenter linkage-lever for normally holding the door in its latched closed position; biasing-means tending to swing said linkage-lever further off-center so as to move the latched side of the door toward the pivotal support of said linkage-lever, thus disengaging the door-latch; a linkage-latch engageable with said linkage-lever for normally preventing said further-otf-center movement of said linkage-lever; and a self-resetting sectionalizer-operating mechanism mounted in the tubular member on the inside of said door and having a sectionalizer-contact disposed near the latched edge of the door; a first one of said linecontacts pressing against the face of said sectionalizercontact furthest away from the door-hinge, so that when the linkage-latch is released, said line-contact and sectionalizer-contact will pull apart at approximately right angles to their contacting surfaces; said sectionalizeroperating mechanism including a coil disposed about the tubular member and having one terminal connected to said sectionalizer-contact; the second line-contact making contact with the second terminal of said coil in the closed position of the door; and said sectionalizer-operating mechanism further including a self-resetting means for counting a predetermined number of rapidly repeated overcurrent-conditions, and then effecting the release of said linkage-latch during a no-current period.

2. An enclosed sectionalizer for use on an electrical distribution-line, said sectionalizer comprising: a housing having two line-contacts therein, said housing further having a door, a hinge for one edge of the door, and a door-latch for engaging an opposite edge of the door for holding the door closed; said hinge being of a type having means for at times permitting the latched edge of the door to move toward the hinged side, thus disengaging the door-latch; biasing-means for biasing the movement of the door toward such a disengaging position; a hingelatch for normally preventing the movement of the door toward such a disengaging position; a tubular member secured to the door on the inside thereof and a self-resetting sectionalizer-operating mechanism mounted inside of said tubular member, said member having a sectionalizer-contact disposed near the latched edge of the door; a first one of said line-contacts pressing against a face of said sectionalizer-contact furthest away from the doorhinge, so that when the hinge-latch is released, said linecontact and sectionalizer-contact will pull apart at approximately right angles to their contacting surfaces; said sectionalizer-operating mechanism including a coil disposed about the tubular member and having one terminal connected to said sectionalizer-contact; the second linecontact making contact with the second terminal of said coil in the closed position of the door; and said sectionalizer-operating mechanism further including a self-resetting integrator-means, energized by said coil, for counting a predetermined number of rapidly repeated overcurrentconditions, and then releasing said hinge-latch during a no-current period.

3. A sectionalizer for use on an electrical distribution line, said sectionalizer comprising: an insulating mounting, carrying two line-contacts; a tubular member containing an operating-mechanism normally joining said line-contacts; a coil disposed relative to said operating-mechanism for magnetizing the same with a substantial axial flux; said operating-mechanism including a tubular member containing a self-resetting magnetically operated integrator-means for counting a predetermined number of rapidly repeated overcurrent-conditions, and then effecting an axial movement; a hinge for securing one end of said tubular member of the operating-mechanism to said mounting; a sectionalizer-contact carried by the other end of said tubular operating-mechanism; a first one of said line-contacts pressing against the face of said sectionalizer-contact furthest away from the hinge, with a limited follow-up movement; a tube-latch carried by the mounting and engaging the contact-end of the tubular operating-mechanism for normally holding the same closed; said coil being connected between said sectionaliber-contact and the second line-contact; said hinge being of a type having means for at times permitting the latched end of the tubular operating-mechanism to move toward the hinged end, thus disengaging said tube-latch and also separating said sectionalizer-contact and said first line-contact with a movement at approximately right angles to their contacting surfaces; biasing-means for biasing the movement of the tubular operating-mechanism in such a contact-operating direction; a hinge-latch for normally preventing the movement of the tubular operating-mechanism in such a contact-separating direction; and abutment-means for causing the final axial movement of the integrator-means to efiect a release of said hinge-latch during a no-current period.

4. A line-sectionalizer mechanism comprising a hinged member having a tubular member with a terminal contact-member, a stationary line-contact which presses against the end-surface of said contact-member with a wiping movement when the circuit is closed by a hinging movement of said hinged member, a fixed support; said hinged member having a hinge pivotally connected to the support and to the hinged member and which includes means including a lever pivotally connected to the hinge for at times permitting the contact-member of the hinged member to move toward the hinged end, thus separating said contact-cap from the stationary line-contact with a movement at approximately right angles to their contacting surfaces; biasing-means for biasing the movement of said contact-member in such a contact'separating direction; a latch biased to a position for normally engaging said lever and preventing the movement of said contactmember in such a contact-separating direction; and resettable integrator-means disposed within the tubular member for tripping said latch.

5. A line-sectionalizer mechanism comprising a hinged member having an elongated hollow member of insulating material with a terminal contact-member, a stationary line-contact which presses against the end-surface of said contact-member with a wiping movement when the circuit is closed by a hinging movement of said hinged member, and a contact-latch for engaging the contact-end of the hinged member for preventing a contact-opening hinging-movement when the contacts are closed; charactcrized by said hinged member having a hinge which includes means for at times permitting the contact-member of the hinged member to move toward the hinged end, thus disengaging said contact-latch and separating said contact-cap from the stationary line-contact with a movement at approximately right angles to their contacting surfaces; biasing-means for biasing the movement of said contact-member in such a contact-separating direction; a hinge-latch normally positioned for preventing the movement of said contact-member in such a contact-separating direction; biasing means urging said hinge latch to said position; resettable integrator-means including a coil disposed about the hollow member and advanceable means actuated in response to interruption of an overcurrent through the coil for tripping said hinge-latch; and biasingmeans for causing a contact-opening hinging-movement of the hinged member to further separate the contacts when said contact-latch is disengaged; said hinge-latch reclosing itself when said hinged member hinges open, whereby said mechanism is ready for a hinged closing-movement resulting in a wiping action of the contacts.

6. A sectionalizer for use on an electrical distributionline, said sectionalizer comprising: a self-resetting integrator-mechanism comprising a magnetizing coil, a movable armature which is freely movable between a predetermined unattracted position and a predetermined attracted position to which it is attracted by the magnetic flux of said coil, biasing-means for returning said arma ture to its unattracted position each time the current falls below a predetermined value, a movable counter-member, a movable clutch-mechanism which is so mounted as to move back and forth in response to said armature, means for causing the movement of the armature in one direction to make said clutch-mechanism engage said countermember to advance it one step in response to that movement of said armature; means for disengaging said clutchmechanism from said counter-member at the end of each movement of the armature in either direction, means for biasing said counter-member toward its unadvanced position, and means for opposing the sudden return-movement of said counter-member toward its unadvanced position; a normally closed sectionalizer-contact; and means for causing the sectionalizer-contact to open under the control of the last step of said counter-member to a predetermined final position.

7. A self-resetting integrator-mechanism comprising a magnetizing coil, a movable armature which is freely movable between a predetermined unattracted position and a predetermined attracted position to which it is attracted by the magnetic flux of said coil, biasing-means for returning said armature to its unattracted position each time the current falls below a predetermined value, a movable counter-member, a movable clutch-mechanism which is so mounted as to move back and forth in response to said armature, means for causing movement of the armature in one direction to make said clutch-mechanism engage said counter-member to advance it one step in response to that movement of said armature, means for disengaging said clutch-mechanism from said counter-member at the end of each movement of the armature in either direction, means for biasing said counter-member toward its unadvanced position, and means for opposing the -sudden return-movement of said counter-member toward its unadvanced position.

8. A self-resetting integrator-mechanism comprising a tubular member, a magnetizing coil for causing a magnetic flux to flow axially in a portion of said tubular member, an armature within said tubular member, said armature being freely movable axially between a predetermined unattracted position and a predetermined attracted position to which it is attracted by the magnetic flux of said coil, biasing-means for returning said armature to its unattracted position each time the current falls below a predetermined value, said armature having an axially extending hole therethrough, a movable counter-rod which is freely movable within said hole in the armature and which extends beyond both ends of the armature, a oneway drive-mechanism for imparting a step-by-step advance to said counter-rod from successive return-movements of said armature, said drive-mechanism being on the advancing end of the counter-rod which extends beyond said armature, a time-delay means at the other end of the counter-rod for opposing its sudden return-movement, and means for biasing said counter-rod toward its return-movement, said counter-rod projecting more than a predetermined distance out of an end of said tubular member at the end of its predetermined step-by-step advance.

9. A sectionalizer comprising; a tubular member having a contact at one end; a fixed contact for engaging the contact on the tubular member; a hinge support for the tubular member including a latch for retaining the contacts in engagement; a self-resetting integrator-mechanism contained in the tubular member, a magnetizing coil for causing a magnetic flux to flow axially in a portion of said tubular member, an armature disposed axially within said tubular member, said armature being freely movable axially between a predetermined unattracted position and a predetermined attracted position to which it is attracted by the magnetic flux of said coil, biasing-means for returning said armature to its uriattracted position each time the current falls below a predetermined value, an axially disposed movable counterrod which is freely movable within said tubular member, an operative portion of said counter-rod being advanceable and retractable away from and toward one end of the armature, a one-way driving-mechanism for imparting one step of a step-by-step advance to said counter-rod each time the armature moves in that direction, means for biasing said counter-rod toward its retracted position, and means for opposing the sudden return-movement of said counter-rod toward its retracted position, said counter-rod projecting more than a predetermined distance out of an end of said tubular member at the end of its predetermined step-by-step advance to effect release of said latch.

10. A sectionalizer comprising, a self-resetting integrator-mechanism comprising a tubular member, a contact adjacent one end of the tubular member; a fixed contact for engaging said contact; a hinged support for the tubular member; a latch for maintaining the tubular member with its contact engaging the fixed contact; a magnetizing coil for causing a magnetic flux to flow axially in a portion of said tubular member, an armature disposed axially within said tubular member, said armature being freely movable axially between a predetermined unattracted position and a predetermined attracted position to which it is attracted by the magnetic flux of said coil, biasing-means for returning said armature to its unattracted position each time the current falls below a predetermined value, an axially disposed movable counter-rod which is freely movable within said tubular member, an operative portion of said counter-rod being advanceable and retractable away from and toward one end of the armature, a movable clutch-mechanism which is so mounted as to move back and forth in response to said armature, means for caus-' ing the return-movements of said armature to make said clutch-mechanism engage said counter-rod to advance it one step in response to said return-movement ofvsaid armature, means for disengaging said clutch-mechanism from said counter-rod at the end of each advancing-stroke, means for biasing said counter-rod toward its retracted position, and means for opposing the sudden returnmovement of said counter-rod toward its retracted position, said counter-rod projecting more than a predetermined distance out of an end of said tubular member at the end of its predetermined step-by-step advance to engage and release said latch.

11. A self-resetting integrator-mechanism comprising a tubular member, a magnetizing coil for causing a magnetic fiux to flow axially in a portion of said tubular member, an armature disposed axially within said tubular member, said armature being freely movable axially 12 between a predetermined unattracted position and a predetermined attracted position to which it is attracted by the magnetic flux of said coil, biasing-means for returning said armature to its unattracted position each time the current falls below a predetermined value, an axially disposed movable counter-rod which is freely movable within said tubular member, an operative portion of said counter-rod being advanceable and retractable away from and toward one end of the armature, a movable clutch-mechanism which is so mounted as to move back and forth in response to said armature, means for causing the return-movements of said armature to make said clutch-mechanism engage said counter-rod to advance it one step in response to said return-movement of said armature, means for disengaging said clutchmechanism from said counter-rod at the end of each movement of the armature in either direction, means for biasing said counter-rod toward its retracted position, and means for opposing the sudden return-movement of said counter-rod toward its retracted position, said counterrod projecting more than a predetermined distance out of an end of said tubular member at the end of its predetermined step-by-step advance.

References Cited in the file of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,795,198 Connell Mar. 3, 1931 1,982,986 Garlington Dec. 4, 1934 2,068,620 Spurgeon Ian. 19, 1937 2,337,713 Garlington Dec. 28, 1943 2,359,153 Rawlins Sept. 26, 1944 2,452,233 Gerard et al. Oct. 26, 1948 2,523,984 Edwards Sept. 26, 1950 2,548,079 Thompson et al Apr. 10, 1951 2,561,452 Ryan et al. July 24, 1951 2,575,931 Smith, Jr. Nov. 20, 1951 2,587,341 Lincks Feb. 26, 1952 

